Barcelona has 60 more millions to spend

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims that Barcelona still has 60 million euros° the club can spend this summer.

The main transfer objectives would be Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (22) and a right back defender.



Read more:
Eboue tops right back target list
Last offensive for Cesc
Cicinho and Grygera also options for right back

Deportivo rejects new Filipe bid

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Deportivo La Coruña has rejected Barcelona's 9 million euro° bid for Deportivo La Coruña left back defender Filipe Luis (23).

Deportivo would want a fee of at least 12 million euro and has reportedly officially informed the player's agent José Carlos Lages about the rejection of the offer.

Deportivo sports director Richard Moar explained in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the bid is not enough: "They have risen their bid, but so little... Barcelona knows the qualities of Filipe and the progress he still can make. We hope that they make a better offer. We want a price that is right and therefore Barcelona has to make a higher bid. It's difficult to find a left back defender on the market and Filipe is very good."

Read more:
Agent Filipe confirms that deadline expires today
Difficult negotiations with Deportivo on Filipe

Agent Mata confirms Barcelona interest

Asked about the rumours linking Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's father and agent Juan Manuel Mata has confirmed the interest in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo:

"I know about the interest of Barça because Valencia president Llorente told me about it. He said that both Barça and Madrid want him but that he's not going to sell. But in football, things can change in a week or in one day. As far as I know there could have been a joint bid for Villa and Mata and individual bids for each of them. That's what it seems like to me.

I've also been a football player and I can assure you that every player would like to play in a top team where they can win everything. And everybody also wants to get a better financial deal. I don't want to talk about the last renewal offer we received from Valencia, otherwise I could say stupid things."

* Juan Manuel Mata repeated in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that Barcelona has made two concrete offers: "I know of the interest of Barça because Valencia confirmed this to me. But the club says they won't sell to anybody. They're not willing to listen to offers for their players, and certainly not for Mata. Now there seem to be a new offer. The first one was an offer for him and Villa and now there's one only for him."

Asked about the first renewal offer he yesterday received from Valencia, Juan Manuel Mata said in an interview with Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias that this offer is clearly not enough: "It's not at all what we thought it would be, although I want to stress that the boy is feeling very comfortable and happy in Valencia. I'll meet with Valencia next weeek to discuss things." *

Read more:
Valencia rejects offers for Mata
Next season's team (3)
Van Persie, Malouda and Mata next on the list

Liverpool rejects first bid for Mascherano

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has made Liverpool a few days ago a 20 million euro° bid for Liverpool defensive midfielder and Argentine international Javier Mascherano (25) through the player's agent Walter Tamer but that the English club has rejected the offer.

Tamer would then have raised the bid to 20 million euro plus the loan or the transfer of a Barcelona player who can leave the club but Liverpool doesn't seem willing to consider the offer unless more important players are offered.

Asked about the rumours linking Mascherano with a move to Barcelona, Federico Vitali, another agent of the player, said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM that there aren't direct negotiations between the two clubs at this moment: "Barcelona is of course interested in Javier Mascherano but until Barcelona start talking with Liverpool, no progress will be made. It's clear that Mascherano wants to play at Barcelona, every Argentinian player would want that."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Liverpool asks 40 million euro° plus the loan of Barcelona forward Bojan (18). British tabloid The Daily Mail claims that Liverpool wants to let the player go for a fee of at least 41,5 million euro°, while Barcelona would be ready to offer 24 million euro° plus Bojan. Sport claims that a loan of Bojan is not an option. British newspaper The Times claims that Mascherano is valued at 36 million euro°.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror on the other hand claims that Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez has made it clear that Mascherano will not be allowed to leave at any price and that the coach will now call a summet with the player's agent to insist that the Argentinian midfielder must honour the three years left on his contract.

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser meanwhile claims that Real Madrid made an 30 to 35 million euro° bid for Mascherano. Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims, based upon sources from the entourage of the player, that Madrid didn't yet make a formal offer. The Times claims that Madrid is prepared to pay 45 million euro° for Mascherano and Liverpool right back Arbeloa and that Benítez is close to conceding defeat in his attempts to keep he Argentinian.

Read more:
Meeting on Mascherano in Barcelona
The report of Txiki (2) : Mascherano priority

Eto'o wants to stay next season

Asked about the future of Barcelona forward and Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o (27), the player's agent Josep María Mesalles has said in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM and Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the player wants to continue at Barcelona next season:

"What Samuel wanted to say in that interview is very easy: my future is certain until my contract expires. So he's sure about the near future. Maybe in the end he will want to continue at Barça, but the club won't. We will see what will happen later. You cannot be sure about the future.

We all know Samuel by now. He could have been sneakier and say that this wasn't the moment to talk about that but he never avoids a question. About not wanting to pose with the shirt, he had just finished training and he had taken a shower, so he didn't want to put it on again. On the other hand, it's true that he has always said that he would like to end his career at Mallorca, the club who has a special place in his heart.

Samuel wants to stay with Barça because he's very happy to live in the city of Barcelona and to be a part of a club like Barça. Last year, sadly, the club said that Eto'o had to leave but in the end he stayed. I told him that we had a contract with Barcelona and Samuel stayed and has already scored 23 goals.

The renewal negotiations with the club didn't start yet, so we didn't ask for more money. Until now, Barça didn't approach us, nor did we approach them. It's not in our interest to make the first step, we have a contract and we plan to respect that. There are no negotiations ongoing, but the relations with the club are very good.

I also want to make clear that we didn't have contacts with Real Madrid. What happened is that Eto'o coincidentally met Real Madrid's president at the Euro last summer and there was some joking around. There haven't been any serious negotiations and I never sat around the table to talk with Madrid. We are feeling good at Barcelona and we like to stay at Barcelona."

In an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport, Mesalles also spoke about the future of Eto'o: "The fact that the player wouldn't renew now doesn't mean that he won't continue. He has a contract until 2010 and he has always said that he wants to fulfill it. So there's still a lot of time to think about his future.

I didn't yet receive an offer from the club but if they call me, I will be glad to listen to what they have to say. I don't understand that some assure that he'll leave the club. On the contrary, the player is very happy at Barcelona. You can only have scored 23 goals at this stage of the season if you are playing at a club where you feel happy."

Read more:
Eto'o: "I already made a decision on my future"
Eto'o wants to negotiate renewal in the summer
Eto'o: "I can still go higher"

Agent Asenjo confirms Barcelona contact

Asked about the rumours linking Real Valladolid goalkeeper and Spanish youth international Sergio Asenjo (19) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's agent Fernando Redondo has admitted in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he has talked with Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain:

"I spoke with Txiki about the situation of Asenjo back in December, just before he travelled to Japan. We just exchanged information but nothing more. Barça is preparing for next season and that's why they contacted us. We've talked with Txiki but also with other sports directors."

Redondo told the same in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona FM, adding that it's likely that Asenjo, who's recovering from a meniscus injury, will leave Valladolid next summer: "Txiki and I have talked. It was a simple exchange of opinions. Barça is collecting information before they make a move. Asenjo is now recovering from an injury but it's very likely that he will leave Valladolid at the end of the season."

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Barcelona is one of the clubs that have already asked for Asenjo. But because he would come as back-up for Valdés, the goalkeeper wouldn't be very keen on moving to Barcelona and would prefer to join Atlético Madrid instead.

Asked about the new rumours, Asenjo said to journalists that he's now focusing on his recovery: "Every player would like to play for a big club like Barça, and even more now when they go through a great moment. But I don't have time to think about these things. I can only think about my knee. I'm concentrated on my recovery. I hope I will be return to the pitch soon."

Read more:
Do We Buy? Goalkeeper.
Asenjo candidate to be back-up for Valdés
Advanced negotiations with goalkeeper Asenjo

Villa again linked with Barcelona move

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claimed yesterday that Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (27) will join Barcelona next summer.

Barcelona has intensified the negotiations on the transfer over the last weeks and would already have found a total agreement with Villa, who wants to leave Valencia but prefers to stay in Spain. There wouldn't yet be a deal between the clubs.

Valencia immediately put out an official statement a few hours later denying a possible deal: "Valencia CF wants to announce officially that the player David Villa and the club are not involved in any deal, agreement or negotiation for the player to leave the club."

Asked about the new rumours, Villa denied a transfer to journalists after the game against Atlético Madrid: "Yes, there's a deal but it's a six-year deal with Valencia. I hope this will be the last time I have to answer this question. If people believe me, that's fine, if they don't, they can tell what they want. I'm the only one who will decide on my future, so my words should count most."

Read more:
Valencia rejects offer for Villa
Barcelona considers buying top striker
Eto'o: "Renewal talks should wait for the summer"

Cesc wants to play in Spain one day

Asked about the constant rumours linking him with a transfer away from the Premier League (read more here), Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (21) has said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he wants to play in Spain before his career comes to an end:

"Everybody knows that I would like to return to Spanish football one day. Playing for a big Liga team is an experience I want to live. I would like to play there in the future, as a professional.

My initial plan has nonetheless always been the same. That's why I signed a long contract with Arsenal, until 2014. The thing is that nobody can ever be sure of his place anywhere. Today everything is so close, so complicated that you never know what can happen. But the truth is that at this moment I'm very happy, very motivated and being captain is an extra incentive."

Read more:
Arsenal renewal or Barcelona move for Cesc
Barcelona preparing January bid for Cesc
Benzema and Cesc on the president's wish list

Madrid vetoes Robinho move to Barcelona

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Madrid has made clear to Real Madrid left winger and Brazilian international Robinho (24) and his agent Wagner Ribeiro that the player won't be able to leave for Barcelona, unless his buyout clause of 180 million euro° is paid.

If Chelsea doesn't raise its bid to 45 million euro, Madrid will propose Robinho, whose current contract expires in 2010, a renewal after his return from teh Olympic Games in Beijing.

Wagner Ribeiro insisted yesterday in an interview with Catalan radio staion Ona FM that he had been contacted by Barcelona (read more here): "I'm not lying, the person who I talked to is Pepe Costa. He's a lot in Brazil and he also talked with Robinho. He's a friend of mine and he wanted to know more about Robinho and how things are with Chelsea and Madrid.

I told him that it will be very difficult, and actually almost impossible, that Madrid would allow him to leave to Barcelona because of the rivalry. I informed Madrid sports director Mijatovic about the call but it would be like Barcelona allowing Messi to join Madrid."

Ribeiro confirmed the story later to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, but Barcelona scout Pepe Costa denied in an interview with Catalan radio station Ona Fm that he had called the agent to ask him about the contract situation of Robinho. Costa added that Ribeiro had already abused his name in the past trying to make some operations more expensive.

Barcelona board member Rafael Yuste denied any contact in a reaction to Barcelona sports paper Sport: "I really don't know of anyone from Barcelona who would have talked with Robinho." Asked by journalists about the rumours, Barcelona president Joan Laporta didn't really enter the issue on Thursday: "Personally, I like all good players, but these kinds of things are taking care of by Txiki Begiristain."

Read more:

Robinho agent admits contact with Barcelona

Looking for a star
First contacts with Robinho

Villa prefers Barcelona

During a commemoration event, Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has admitted that Barcelona is interested in Valencia forward and Spanish international David Villa (26) but said that a transfer will be difficult because of the high transfer fee (read more here).

Valencia president Agustín Morera said earlier this week in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the club doesn't have any intention to sell Villa: "He and Silva are untransferable and this is the official position of the club. They are symbols, icons of Valencia. I hope Villa will end his career with us. He is very involved with the club and would like to continue. And I don't want to talk about prices but if Barcelona has paid more than 30 million euro for Alves, I think that it's clear for everone that Villa is worth much more."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Villa, a known admirer of former Barcelona forward Luis Enrique, would prefer a move to Barcelona, a club that he has always supported beside local club Sporting Gijón. Despite the firm statements from the club, Valencia would have accepted the fact that Villa will leave the club.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Valencia would be asking 40 million euro° for the striker. With the probable transfer of Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o, that fee shouldn't be a problem. Villa is at this moment Barcelona's first option for the centre forward position.

Read more:
Tough and expensive Villa race coming up
Looking for a new Larsson
Barcelona keeping an eye on Valencia duo

Deco top target for Bayern

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona midfielder and Portuguese midfielder Deco (30) is a top target for Bayern Munich manager Jürgen Klinsmann after the German champions failed to transfer AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso (read more here).

Klinsmann will try to convince Deco, who has said he prefers to leave for England or Italy (read more here), by making him the key player of a squad ready to fight for next season's Champions League. Bayern would be considering to offer Barcelona a transfer fee of around 20 million euro° for the Brazilian born midfielder whose contract expires in 2010.

Deco meanwhile repeated in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he will certainly leave but is now focusing on the European championship: "I have not played a lot this season, so I know I'm gonna play a great Euro 2008. If they want me to stay after that, I won't accept. They haven't thrown me out but when a club says they are open to listen to offers, that means they not really want you anymore. And when that's the case, the best thing is to leave."

Read more:

New Bayern manager Klinsmann wants Deco

Deco announces his exit

Bayern rejects offer for Ribery

Official talks on Alves to start tomorrow

With the season officially coming to an end this weekend, it is expected that Barcelona will try to present the first new players for next season in the coming week. Sevilla right back defender and Brazilian international Daniel Alves (25) could be one of the first names that will be announced. The official negotiations with Sevilla will start this week.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo states that Sevilla president José María del Nido starts from the 36 million euro° which Chelsea offered last summer. Barcelona expects to close the deal for less than 30 million euro°. Madrid sports tabloid Marca claims that Barcelona has made a first bid for Alves: Sevilla would receive 25 million euro° for the player, although part of the amount is in incentives and Barcelona could include some players (instead of cash) in the deal.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona and Sevilla officials have been negotiating on Tuesday and Wednesday. Barcelona would have made a second offer which wasn't accepted but which is coming closer to what is acceptable for Sevilla. One single deal on Alves and Sevilla midfielder Keita is also an option (read more here).

Sport also suggests that Mallorca left back defender and former Barcelona player Fernando Navarro (25) could play a role in the transfer. Sevilla has contacted Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of the player, to sound out the Spanish international on a possible transfer. Barcelona will receive 30 per cent of the transfer fee Sevilla would have to pay but considers to drop their share if that would make the transfer of Alves more likely.

All media nevertheless agree that Sevilla is willing to sell Alves, whose contract expires in 2011 and who has a buyout clause of 60 million euro°, this summer. Sevilla sports director Monchi and Sevilla manager Manolo Jiménez seemed to accept at press conferences this week that the Brazilian defender will leave.

The player himself has repeated several times this week that his time in Sevilla is over (read more here). To Spanish television station TVE he was most clear: "I will leave Sevilla at the end of the season."

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims that Barcelona economic vice president Ferran Soriano and Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain met this week with Rodri, the agent of Alves, to discuss the transfer. Catalan sports papers Sport says that the negotiations between Barcelona and the legal advisers of Alves can be finalized few hours after an agreement has been found between the two clubs (read more here).

Read more:

Alves chooses Barcelona

Personal agreement with Alves

How things stand: Right back defender

Guiza agent learning Barcelona hymn

Asked about the future of her husband, Nuria Bermúdez (picture), the wife and agent of Mallorca forward and Spanish international Dani Güiza (27), suggested in an interview with Spanish news site El Confidencial that Güiza could end up in Barcelona: "I might have to learn the hymn of Barça in Catalan."

With a buyout fee of 15 million euro° (read more here), the Liga top goal scorer will most probably leave Mallorca in the summer. And although she's a true madridista, Bermúdez, who is a Spanish celebrity, doesn't mind that Güiza could sign for Barcelona: "Blaugrana or not, he stays my partner. The future of my children depends upon what he will do."

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Bermúdez said that Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has met with Félix Moneo, the other agent of Güiza: "Barcelona is one of the two Spanish clubs who are most interested. Félix Moneo has met a couple of times with Txiki Begiristain and we're now waiting for them to put their proposal on paper. If we have received all offers, we will decide."

Madrid sports tabloid Marca meanwhile claims that Félix Moneo has received a phone call of Barcelona sports director Txiki Beguiristain to ask for more time. Barcelona is still interested in the player but will not take any transfer decisions before current manager Frank Rijkaard has left.

Read more:

First talks with Guiza

Guiza agent confirms Barcelona interest

Guiza opens Barcelona door

First talks on Valencia striker Villa

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser claims that Barcelona is monitoring the situation of Valencia forward and Spanish interntional David Villa (26). Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain has met twice last week with José Luis Tamargo, the agent of Villa, who also assisted the Barcelona-Valencia game on Sunday.

The agent denied during the talks that Real Madrid has a first option on Villa. Tamargo made clear that the Valencia striker has no kind of agreement with another club and that he is ready to listen if Barcelona would want to make an offer.

pep's opinion:
we don't really need that type of striker, let the guy go to the Premier League, he will be great there

Read more:
Looking for a left winger
Barcelona can talk with Amauri
Albelda wants Barça door open

Deco can leave

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona midfielder Deco (30) has been informed by the club that they will listen to offers coming in for the player.

Although the club positively evaluated his participation in the Chamions League semi finals, a renewal in midfield is deemed necessary. And with Iniesta and Xavi being untouchable, Deco would be the one who has to leave. A transfer of Deco could also bring in an important sum of money that could be used to reinvest in the new squad. If the club won't receive a good bid, the Portuguese player could nevertheless stay.

Asked about a possible summer exit, Deco said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he does not plan to leave after this season: "Playing for Barcelona always has been a dream for me and I'm not thinking about leaving the club. I rejected a lot of offers from other clubs because this is the club I dreamt playing for. There are people who already wanted me out three years ago but I'm not even thinking about that."

Read more:
Deco plays it hard
Which Milan for Deco?
Deco could be new Bayern star transfer

Eto'o insists on the need to win trophies

Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o (27) has told in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that he did not threat to leave on Sunday (read more here), but nevertheless insisted that it will be difficult to continue without a trophy in the next twelve months: "My statement was not a threat, just the reality of a club in which the players have responsibilities. If we do not win the Champions League this year and we don't win anything next season either, that would make three years without winning one single trophy. A club like Barcelona cannot allow that. So what I said is that I wouldn't feel comfortable anymore, I could not stay and face the fans."

Eto'o added that when he leaves Barcelona, it will be for a foreign club and he only would return to Spain to play for his former club Mallorca.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo meanwhile reports that the Barcelona board was not amused with the declarations of the Cameroonian international days before the important Champions League game against Manchester United, just when the club is trying to get all the fans behind the team. Eto'o is said to have set his personal interests above the team interests.


Read more:
Without trophies, Eto'o will leave

Blanc is in the race too

Another day, another possible name to replace Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona manager next season. Spanish radio station Cadena Ser and Catalan radio station Ona FM claim that former Barcelona defender Laurent Blanc (42) is also one of the candidates. The Barcelona board would be impressed by his personality and his attacking playing style. His lack of experience could be a minus.

Laurent Blanc played for Barcelona in the season 1996-1997. He was signed by Johan Cruyff, who was however sacked on the day of Blanc's signing and later replaced by Sir Bobby Robson. Since last summer Blanc is the manager of Girondins Bordeaux, second in the French league.

Cesc renegociating his contract

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas (20) reacted yesterday on the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser to the rumours linking him again with a return to Barcelona. The player admitted his former club is following him: "I feel proud about this because I am a barcelonista". But for now he only thinks about winning titles with Arsenal. The Barcelona youth player is holding talks with his club because they want to renegociate his current contract that ends in 2014.